Large traffic project in Vienna: Tram line 18 is extended!

Large traffic project in Vienna: Tram line 18 is extended!

Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Wien, Österreich - The construction work for the extension of tram line 18 has officially started. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on Monday in the presence of Ulli Sima (SPÖ), Gudrun Senk and Monika Unterholzner. The extension will lead line 18 from Schlachhausgasse towards the Ernst Happel Stadium. From autumn 2025, two new trams (BIMS) will be used, and in 2026 the line will run from the U6 station Burggasse-Stadthalle to the U2 station Stadion. These measures are part of a large -scale project to improve public transport in Vienna, as krone.at reported.

The new route will have a length of three kilometers and include seven new stops, including Ludwig-Koeßler-Platz, Sillerweg, Stadionbad, Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Olympiaplatz, Meierestraße/Handelskai and Dr.-Natterer-Gasse. The stop at Olympic Platz will be between Vorgartenstraße and Engerthstraße. The project will be realized with an investment of 87 million euros and provides for the planting of over 200 new trees along the route to promote the traffic calming and greening of the city, so Wienerbezirksblatt.at.

direct connections and traffic calming

The extension of line 18 not only improves the connection to the Prater and the Ernst Happel Stadium, but also creates a direct connection between the 2nd and 3rd district. At major events, the Ernst Happel Stadium stop becomes the final stop of line 18. In addition, line 18 offers an important alternative route for the S-Bahn in the event of faults, relieves existing bus and subway lines and will largely take over the bus line 77a in the future. A new bus line 78a is also set up in the 2nd district, which further improves local transport.

Line 18 will also help relieve the streets, since motor vehicles are no longer allowed to drive through the Green Prater. A new, wide cycle path in Meiereiße is also created. From June, Meierestrasse will be shown as car -free, which should help improve the quality of life in this area. This comprehensive traffic project also includes the renovation of an 82-meter-long and 26-meter-wide bridge over the Danube Canal and the A4, which has already started to observe the deadlines for the complete blocking of the S-Bahn line from September 2026, such as today.at emphasized.

long -term perspectives

The current construction work is only part of a larger plan to improve public transport in Vienna. In the next nine years, investments of 860 million euros have been planned for the expansion of the tram lines to the surrounding area. The new traffic projects, including the extension of line D and line O, will probably also create around 10,000 new jobs and increase GDP by one billion euros. With the progressive expansion of public transport, sustainable and efficient mobility in the city is promoted.

Ulli Sima, which has been part of the Vienna city government for 21 years, is optimistic about the future: "The new measures will improve the connection between citizens and promote environmentally friendly mobility". Next, there are plans for a traffic-free city center and a ban on electric mopeds on bike paths on the agenda.